T 1198/97 (Spray drying/UNILEVER) of 5.3.2001

European Case Law Identifier: ECLI:EP:BA:2001:T119897.20010305
Date of decision: 05 March 2001
Case number: T 1198/97
Application number: 90203444.6
IPC class: B01D 1/16
Language of proceedings: EN
Distribution: B
Download and more information:
Decision text in EN (PDF, 50 KB)
Documentation of the appeal procedure can be found in the Register
Bibliographic information is available in: EN
Versions: Unpublished
Title of application: Computer-controlled spray-drying process
Applicant name: UNILEVER N.V., et al
Opponent name: HENKEL KGaA
PROCTER & GAMBLE E.T.C.
Board: 3.3.05
Headnote: -
Relevant legal provisions:
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 54(1)
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 113(1)
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 114(1)
European Patent Convention 1973 R 67
European Patent Convention 1973 R 76
Keywords: Novelty - yes, no implicit disclosure
Procedural violation - yes, introduction of evidence by opposition division in oral proceedings without indicating relevant facts thereof
Competence for requests concerning the minutes of first instance oral proceedings
Catchwords:

When a document published several years after the priority date of the patent-in-suit is introduced by the Opposition Division of its own motion as evidence for the common general knowledge at the priority date of the patent-in-suit, in order to safeguard the parties'right to be heard under Article 113(1) EPC, the parties have to be made aware of the publication date of the document, if this date cannot be ascertained from the document itself (6. of the Reasons).

2. Even when an appeal has been filed against a decision of a first instance department, only the department of first instance before which the oral proceedings took place is competent and at the same time also obliged to decide in first instance on a request concerning the contents of the minutes of oral proceedings held before it (7. of the Reasons).

Cited decisions:
-
Citing decisions:
T 0356/04
T 0716/06
T 0508/08
T 0162/09
T 0388/09
T 0803/12
T 2256/13
T 1363/14
T 2238/15

12 references found.

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EPO Guidelines - E General Procedural Matters

Case Law Book: III Amendments

Case Law Book: V Priority

General Case Law